Govt may employ Ayush practitioners in villages, instead of MBBS doctors

New Delhi: The Central Government is planning to employ practitioners of Ayurveda, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (Ayush) in villages rather MBBS doctors, if the National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill gets nod from the standing committee, sources said.

The sources further mentioned that the government is planning to increase the number of MBBS doctors in district hospitals and also want to strongly emphasise on the health infrastructure.

"Recruiting MBBS doctors in villages is wasting of manpower as the basic infrastructure is needed to make these doctors operational. Thus, the government is planning to recruit practitioners of Ayush after giving them training with a short term "bridge" course," an official said.

During the last session, Union Health Minister JP Nadda talked about "crosspathy" on the floor of the house and inclusion of ayurveda, naturopathy, unani, siddha and homoeopathy in the main stream under the new NMC Bill. However, earlier this month a nationwide protest was being witnessed by doctors against the bill.

"The members of the commission will be selected on the basis of merit, rather being elected," sources further mentioned.

In addition, the Central Government also feels that every State should have one AIIMS which should not be turn into district hospitals. Therefore, the ministry has decided to employ retired professors as mentors there.

"An institution takes 20 years to run properly. We do not compromise with the infrastructure. The government has spent Rs. 1300- 1400 crore for each AIIMS. Now, AIIMS have also been linked to Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) and Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) to maintain its quality. As we do not want it to make a 'Zilla hospital'," Union Health Minister JP Nadda asserted while asked.

"The high level committee also recruits doctors after a thorough interview. We have improved the condition of AIIMS, Patna and AIIMS Jodhpur, Raipur, Bhubaneswar and even in Bhatinda are running well," the official further said.

Under the "Universal Screening Training Programme," the ministry has also identified 100 districts across the nation for vocational training to screen cancer patients and Hypertension patients.

Significantly, the government is also starting campaigning programme under ' Parivar Vikas Yojana' scheme, where counseling will be conducted in the states, having 'Fertility rate' is more than 2.1 to 2.4. "The strategy is different for each state. Where the education rate is comparatively low there will be counseling programme and door-to-door awareness programme," the minister added further.

Sources also said that the ministry has urged to increase the financial capacity for better infrastructure during the upcoming budget, while it spends 2.5 per cent of the GDP of the country for health, aiming accessible, affordable and holistic approach to health.